John Eliot Gardiner - the pros and cons...

[BBMmk2]

Great shout (as they say) to highlight those French baroque recordings - yes, "Les Boréades" was a revelation for me - and his Handel recordings on Erato (and Purcell too for that matter).

Not generally available now?

[MickyD]

Not generally available now?

You can get it here for just ten quid - snap it up quick!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rameau-Bor%C3%A9ades-Various-Artists/dp/B000009INY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487402359&sr=1-1&keywords=rameau+les+boreades

[Dave2002]

You can get it here for just ten quid - snap it up quick!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rameau-Bor%...u+les+boreades

I assume that's a strong recommendation. Ordered - used like new!

[DracoM]

Problem is not JEG, the problem is his followers. He's OK, but he's not THAT good.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Problem is not JEG, the problem is his followers. He's OK, but he's not THAT good.

That puts it in a nutshell. The same can be said of the irrational adulation of other musicians, especially recently deceased ones who had featured on R1 and R2.

[BBMmk2]

Problem is not JEG, the problem is his followers. He's OK, but he's not THAT good.

Thanks!!!

[MickyD]

I assume that's a strong recommendation. Ordered - used like new!

It certainly is - the set is worth having alone for that divine orchestral 'entrée dy Polymnie' , beautifully played by the English Baroque Soloists and certainly my number one piece of Rameau.

[BBMmk2]

Problem is not JEG, the problem is his followers. He's OK, but he's not THAT good.

I don't think that's a very nice way of saying something about a conductor who has done much to promote, especially the Baroque Period and bringing about different ways of hearing music of later periods, such as his work with his Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique. Also the amount of awards he has received as well. I think that is a bit much.

[DracoM]

I am NOT denigrating what he has done at all - I own many of his recordings and value them. I vlaue the MonteverdiChoir etc.
BUT
in the eyes of seemingly a number of influential, opinion-making critics, he apparently can do no wrong, whatever composer / orchestra / work he espouses.

Sorry, I just do not buy that.

[BBMmk2]

I am NOT denigrating what he has done at all - I own many of his recordings and value them. I vlaue the MonteverdiChoir etc.
BUT
in the eyes of seemingly a number of influential, opinion-making critics, he apparently can do no wrong, whatever composer / orchestra / work he espouses.

Sorry, I just do not buy that.

I don't either DracoM. Must've been how I read your post. Apologies, and Alpie.

[Richard Tarleton]

He got a look-in on BAL this am, on the best [sic] of the Julian Bream versions

[Alison]

I'm with DracoM.

I didn't like his trashing in interviews of the English choral tradition, cathedral choirs etc.

[verismissimo]

Musicians I know describe him as a bully and avoid playing for him as a consequence.

[BBMmk2]

Musicians I know describe him as a bully and avoid playing for him as a consequence.

What a shame

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Musicians I know describe him as a bully and avoid playing for him as a consequence.

It's kind of him to spare us "amateur" choristers that dilemma.